Mexican National Man Sentenced for Immigration Crime

Defendant had  four prior deportations to Mexico

BECKLEY, W.Va. – A Mexican national man was sentenced to “time served” after his guilty plea to the felony offense of Reentry of a Removed Alien, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart. Alonso Tapia-Gomez has been incarcerated since May 15, 2018.  Tapia-Gomez was immediately remanded to ICE custody for deportation proceedings.   Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the West Virginia State Police.

“What a revolving door,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Tapia-Gomez is being deported now for the fifth time.  One would think he would have gotten the message by now.  He needs to get in line and follow our laws.”

On May 15, 2018, Tapia-Gomez was found in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia.  Specifically, agents with ICE received a cellular phone call from the West Virginia State Police about an individual in a traffic stop who was possibly in the United States illegally.  This suspicion was based on a Mexican identification document that was given to the West Virginia State Police trooper by Tapia-Gomez.  Pursuant to this phone call and request for assistance, ICE agents immediately spoke with Tapia-Gomez telephonically.  Tapia-Gomez admitted to being in the United States illegally.  ICE agents responded to the scene and took Tapia-Gomez into federal custody. Agents again confirmed in person that Tapia-Gomez was not in the United States legally.

Tapia-Gomez’s fingerprints matched him to four prior encounters where he was found in the United States illegally and  deported from the United States to Mexico. Tapia-Gomez again illegally reentered the United States prior to his arrest in 2018.  Tapia-Gomez had not obtained permission to legally enter the United States and had not sought legal status or citizenship.  Tapia-Gomez also admitted to ICE agents that he was a Mexican citizen.

Assistant United States Attorney Erik S. Goes was responsible for the prosecution. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing.

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